Governor: New Jersey is 'going down the drain'

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The Republican governor of Illinois has some harsh words for Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who campaigned hard for his election last year.

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner says New Jersey "is lost." He said during an Illinois Farm Bureau conference last week his state has the highest property taxes in America after New Jersey. He says he doesn't want to compete with New Jersey on anything — especially that.

He says the situation in New Jersey is a disaster. He says: "They're going down the drain, and they ain't turning it around."

Rauner defeated Democratic incumbent Pat Quinn in November with the help of the Republican Governors Association. Christie served as the association's chair and traveled to Illinois repeatedly to campaign with Rauner.

Spokesmen for Rauner and Christie haven't returned messages left Monday seeking comment.